MediaSavant
12-12-2002, 05:03 AM
Trilogy's Stern beaming to Sci Fi
Hollywood Reporter
Dec. 12, 2002
By Cynthia Littleton
After 15 years as a producer and partner in Trilogy Entertainment, Mark Stern is going beyond "The Outer Limits" and "The Twilight Zone" into the executive realm as the new head of programming for Sci Fi Channel.
As senior vp original programming, Stern will oversee all development and current programming at Sci Fi, which is riding high this month with the success of its 20-hour miniseries "Taken." As part of the job, however, Stern will also work with David Kissinger, head of Sci Fi's sibling Universal Television Prods. division, on developing science fiction-themed projects for other networks.
Stern has worked closely with Sci Fi executives in recent years as a producer on Trilogy's revival of "The Outer Limits" anthology series and other projects. He reports to Sci Fi president Bonnie Hammer.
Hammer said Stern was recruited to the newly created top programming post because of his expertise in both developing projects and seeing them through as a producer.
"What we need to do for our next step is not only have somebody who's strong in development but somebody who understands production as well so that we have the best shot at seeing the money we spend wind up on the screen," Hammer said. "Mark has that unique combination of expertise, and he loves the genre more than anyone I know."
During his tenure with Trilogy, where he was a partner and head of the indie production outfit's TV arm, Stern supervised the development of "The Outer Limits" and, more recently, UPN's revival of "The Twilight Zone," NBC's telefilm remake of "Carrie" and the newsroom drama series "Breaking News," which recently debuted on Bravo. Stern, who was selected in 1998 as one of the Hollywood Reporter's "Next Generation" executives to watch, also wrote several episodes of "The Outer Limits" and Trilogy's Showtime drama "Poltergeist: The Legacy."
Hollywood Reporter
Dec. 12, 2002
By Cynthia Littleton
After 15 years as a producer and partner in Trilogy Entertainment, Mark Stern is going beyond "The Outer Limits" and "The Twilight Zone" into the executive realm as the new head of programming for Sci Fi Channel.
As senior vp original programming, Stern will oversee all development and current programming at Sci Fi, which is riding high this month with the success of its 20-hour miniseries "Taken." As part of the job, however, Stern will also work with David Kissinger, head of Sci Fi's sibling Universal Television Prods. division, on developing science fiction-themed projects for other networks.
Stern has worked closely with Sci Fi executives in recent years as a producer on Trilogy's revival of "The Outer Limits" anthology series and other projects. He reports to Sci Fi president Bonnie Hammer.
Hammer said Stern was recruited to the newly created top programming post because of his expertise in both developing projects and seeing them through as a producer.
"What we need to do for our next step is not only have somebody who's strong in development but somebody who understands production as well so that we have the best shot at seeing the money we spend wind up on the screen," Hammer said. "Mark has that unique combination of expertise, and he loves the genre more than anyone I know."
During his tenure with Trilogy, where he was a partner and head of the indie production outfit's TV arm, Stern supervised the development of "The Outer Limits" and, more recently, UPN's revival of "The Twilight Zone," NBC's telefilm remake of "Carrie" and the newsroom drama series "Breaking News," which recently debuted on Bravo. Stern, who was selected in 1998 as one of the Hollywood Reporter's "Next Generation" executives to watch, also wrote several episodes of "The Outer Limits" and Trilogy's Showtime drama "Poltergeist: The Legacy."